Let me get this straight...

sizco25
sizco25 Posts: 18 Member
edited July 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
So... MFP has set up a calorie limit of 2630 cals a day thats with losing 2 lbs a week.. so i can pretty much eat anything i want as long im in my calories i will lose weight?
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Replies

  • twistedwoman
    twistedwoman Posts: 47 Member
    Gosh I wish I had an allowance of 2630!!! What did you set your activity level to??
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Yep
  • robs_ready
    robs_ready Posts: 1,488 Member
    sizco25 wrote: »
    So... MFP has set up a calorie limit of 2630 cals a day thats with losing 2 lbs a week.. so i can pretty much eat anything i want as long im in my calories i will lose weight?

    If your active and your calorie goal justifies that much then yes.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited July 2016
    As long as you pick accurate database entries, are accurate about the portions you are consuming, selected the correct activity level for your day to day life (without exercise), then yes. The key thing is that you have to be accurate. For accurate food portions a food scale is best, then comes measuring cups, then a rough guide using your hands, and the worst is just eyeballing. Always double check the food entries you use. There is a lot of inaccurate stuff in the database (even verified entries can be very very wrong) and just because you use the barcode scanner doesn't mean it pulls up the correct information.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,171 Member
    Yes. You will probably find that some foods keep you more satiated than others. For me that is protein . Eating foods that keep you full longer will help you to stick to your goal. But there is no reason to cut out foods that you love. You just have to fit them into your goal. I could eat a donut every morning for breakfast and fit it in, but I don't because I would be hungry soon after and a couple of eggs with fruit and Greek yogurt keeps me full until lunch. I would also recommend getting a digital food scale if you don't have one. You can get one for $15 - $20 at Walmart or Target. Weigh everything that is not liquid and only use measuring cups for liquids. That way you will know that you are eating the number of calories you think you are. Good luck!
  • ManateToMermaid
    ManateToMermaid Posts: 27 Member
    So long as your calories aren't made up of Big Macs
  • nhguy78
    nhguy78 Posts: 34 Member
    Drink plenty of water or sodium buildup will make you store water.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Noel_57 wrote: »
    but no sugar!!! sugar is evil and poison! and it's addictive. and it will make you fat. even a teaspoon. ;)

    :laugh:
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Noel_57 wrote: »
    but no sugar!!! sugar is evil and poison! and it's addictive. and it will make you fat. even a teaspoon. ;)

    Can confirm, had a gummy bear just now and I ruined 2 years of progress.

    :laugh:
  • scoii
    scoii Posts: 160 Member
    That's a very high number for 2lb per week. Make sure you haven't overestimated your activity level, that's activity outside of exercise. Without knowing height, weight and job it's difficult to confirm.

    You could eat less calories and speed up your losses if you are not struggling with hunger.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    sizco25 wrote: »
    So... MFP has set up a calorie limit of 2630 cals a day thats with losing 2 lbs a week.. so i can pretty much eat anything i want as long im in my calories i will lose weight?



    I would advise against eating stuff that you don't like, or food that's gone off, but other than that, Yep that's pretty much how it works
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    kgirlhart wrote: »
    Yes. You will probably find that some foods keep you more satiated than others. For me that is protein . Eating foods that keep you full longer will help you to stick to your goal. But there is no reason to cut out foods that you love. You just have to fit them into your goal. I could eat a donut every morning for breakfast and fit it in, but I don't because I would be hungry soon after and a couple of eggs with fruit and Greek yogurt keeps me full until lunch.

    I would also recommend getting a digital food scale if you don't have one. You can get one for $15 - $20 at Walmart or Target. Weigh everything that is not liquid and only use measuring cups for liquids. That way you will know that you are eating the number of calories you think you are. Good luck!

    Great advice. I also focus on eating protein (and fiber) as these keep me full and make it easier to stay within my calorie budget.

    I love my digital scale - when I used to use cups I never knew how tightly to fill them and the scale eliminates this issue as well as having to wash cups.
  • suzyjane1972
    suzyjane1972 Posts: 612 Member
    I'd double check all of the entries....make sure I didn't add 200lb or 3 m in height and my activity was right and if it was alright then eat what you like in the calories set.
  • ogtmama
    ogtmama Posts: 1,403 Member
    If it doesn't work that way for you, you will have either mismeasured your calories in or overestimated you calories out. Wait a month or so, check how many pounds are coming off per week and adjust accordingly.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,260 Member
    edited July 2016
    Looking at your picture you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a week.

    just saying.

    As I have to step out, there are other long time posters in the thread who can explain why you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a month while you're at a normal weight and fat level.

    And certainly your picture does not convey the impression of someone who is overfat.....
  • Colt1835
    Colt1835 Posts: 447 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Looking at your picture you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a week.

    just saying.

    As I have to step out, there are other long time posters in the thread who can explain why you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a month while you're at a normal weight and fat level.

    And certainly your picture does not convey the impression of someone who is overfat.....

    Pictures only show us the past.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,260 Member
    Colt1835 wrote: »
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Looking at your picture you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a week.

    just saying.

    As I have to step out, there are other long time posters in the thread who can explain why you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a month while you're at a normal weight and fat level.

    And certainly your picture does not convey the impression of someone who is overfat.....

    Pictures only show us the past.

    You know the OP? Cause... my picture was from 3 weeks ago so ymmv as to how far back most pictures go...
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited July 2016
    Mine was taken Saturday :)
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Colt1835 wrote: »
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Looking at your picture you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a week.

    just saying.

    As I have to step out, there are other long time posters in the thread who can explain why you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a month while you're at a normal weight and fat level.

    And certainly your picture does not convey the impression of someone who is overfat.....

    Pictures only show us the past.

    You know the OP? Cause... my picture was from 3 weeks ago so ymmv as to how far back most pictures go...

    I think the point that pav is making is to aim for an appropriate rate of loss so that you can minimise muscle loss as much as possible ...1% bodyweight is a good guesstimate of appropriate but many think 2lbs a week is appropriate only over 50lbs to go
  • Colt1835
    Colt1835 Posts: 447 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Colt1835 wrote: »
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Looking at your picture you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a week.

    just saying.

    As I have to step out, there are other long time posters in the thread who can explain why you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a month while you're at a normal weight and fat level.

    And certainly your picture does not convey the impression of someone who is overfat.....

    Pictures only show us the past.

    You know the OP? Cause... my picture was from 3 weeks ago so ymmv as to how far back most pictures go...

    I don't know the OP. I just know that all pictures are of the past. You know of one that wasn't?

    Time Lapse is a pretty good movie about pictures being taken of the future.
  • sizco25
    sizco25 Posts: 18 Member
    Gosh I wish I had an allowance of 2630!!! What did you set your activity level to??

    it's at active. im usally on a delivery truck all day.
  • ogtmama
    ogtmama Posts: 1,403 Member
    edited July 2016
    sizco25 wrote: »
    Gosh I wish I had an allowance of 2630!!! What did you set your activity level to??

    it's at active. im usally on a delivery truck all day.

    That's not sitting half the time? Or more?
  • sizco25
    sizco25 Posts: 18 Member
    scoii wrote: »
    That's a very high number for 2lb per week. Make sure you haven't overestimated your activity level, that's activity outside of exercise. Without knowing height, weight and job it's difficult to confirm.

    You could eat less calories and speed up your losses if you are not struggling with hunger.

    I'm usally on a truck 12 hours a day at work lol. sideload always moving.
  • sizco25
    sizco25 Posts: 18 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Looking at your picture you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a week.

    just saying.

    As I have to step out, there are other long time posters in the thread who can explain why you shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a month while you're at a normal weight and fat level.

    And certainly your picture does not convey the impression of someone who is overfat.....

    I need to lose about 50 lbs.. i don't look big in the picture im 6'3 and around 260 right now.. im looking to get down to around 200 or so.. picture was taken in the past 6 months i think. but im alot bigger then what the picture looks lol.
  • MakePeasNotWar
    MakePeasNotWar Posts: 1,329 Member
    vingogly wrote: »
    I refer to my food diary every time I eat something. That way I can make adjustments later in the day. If I eat a big lunch, I'll cut back in the evening. If I'm short, I'll find something to make up the difference for an evening snack. It's like living within a budget: if you spend half your paycheck on a new suit, you're not going to be able to meet your bills.

    Great analogy. Before I started to make an effort to be more aware of what I was eating (not just how many calories), I ended many days with the nutritional equivalent of a closet full of designer cocktail gowns and no heat or electricity :/
  • sizco25
    sizco25 Posts: 18 Member
    and i've used alot of calroie calculators they all say around 2600 cals to lose 2 lbs a week and around 3400 to maintain weight thats under being active which i think i am.